Farm Bill Has Plenty Of Friends And Foes In Washington
Farm bill faces opposition inside and outside of Oklahoma
By Chris Casteel
WASHINGTON — “It’s a difference between those who are wearing dress shoes and those who are wearing boots,” U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin said. “I’m wearing boots.”
Mullin was referring to the members of his freshman class in the U.S. House who may be voting this week on their first farm bill. Mullin, a Republican from Westville who operates a ranch in addition to his plumbing company, understands the nuances of farm bill policy and politics.
Many of his colleagues don’t. So Mullin — who “grew up around this stuff” — has been trying to educate them.
Because Mullin knows that it takes those wearing boots and dress shoes to get a massive farm bill through Congress — the boots for the complex programs that shape the markets for agriculture commodities and the dress shoes for the food stamp program that accounts for most of the bill’s spending.